# Planetary Science Institute

> research institute in Tucson, Arizona

**Wikidata**: [Q7201238](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7201238)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planetary_Science_Institute)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/planetary-science-institute

## Summary
The Planetary Science Institute (PSI) is a research institute founded in 1972 and headquartered in Tucson, Arizona. Dedicated to the scientific study of planetary science, the organization serves as a major hub for research in the United States.

## Key Facts
*   **Founded:** 1972
*   **Founder:** William Kenneth Hartmann
*   **Headquarters:** Tucson, Arizona, United States (Coordinates: 32.2643, -110.9464)
*   **Organization Type:** Research Institute
*   **Primary Industry:** Planetary Science
*   **Acronym:** PSI
*   **Website:** http://www.psi.edu
*   **GRID ID:** grid.423138.f
*   **ROR ID:** 05vvg9554
*   **Ringgold ID:** 53469

## FAQs
### Q: Where is the Planetary Science Institute located?
A: The Planetary Science Institute is headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, in the United States.

### Q: Who founded the Planetary Science Institute?
A: The institute was founded in 1972 by William Kenneth Hartmann.

### Q: What is the primary purpose of the Planetary Science Institute?
A: It is a research institute, which is an organization whose primary purpose is to conduct research, specifically within the field of planetary science.

## Why It Matters
The Planetary Science Institute (PSI) represents a focused scientific effort to understand planetary systems. Established in 1972 by William Kenneth Hartmann, it has endured for decades as a dedicated entity for astronomical and planetary research. Unlike broader universities, PSI is classified specifically as a research institute, indicating that its core output and infrastructure are optimized for scientific discovery and analysis rather than undergraduate education.

Its presence in Tucson, Arizona—a region known for its high concentration of astronomical observatories and research centers—positions it within a critical geographic cluster for space sciences. The institute maintains a significant digital and academic footprint, verified by numerous global identifiers (such as GRID, ROR, and ISNI) and Library of Congress authority records. This formal recognition underscores its legitimacy and active role in the global scientific community.

## Notable For
*   **Specialized Focus:** Being a dedicated research institute specifically for planetary science, rather than a general academic department.
*   **Geographic Hub:** Having its headquarters in Tucson, Arizona, a major center for astronomical research.
*   **Longevity:** Operating continuously since its inception in 1972.
*   **Academic Integration:** Maintaining extensive cross-referencing in major academic databases (Wikipedia, Commons, Quora) and library authorities (Library of Congress, GND).

## Body

### Founding and Classification
The Planetary Science Institute was established in 1972 by William Kenneth Hartmann. It is formally classified as a research institute, defined as an organization whose primary purpose is research. The institute operates within the industry of planetary science and is often referred to by its short name, PSI.

### Location and Facilities
The institute is headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, in the United States. Geographically, its headquarters are situated at approximate coordinates 32.2643° N, 110.9464° W.

### Identity and Digital Presence
PSI maintains a distinct online identity through its official website, `http://www.psi.edu` (English). It holds a presence on various social and knowledge platforms, including Facebook (`planetarysci`) and Bluesky. The institute is indexed under several standardized persistent identifiers used by the scientific community:
*   **GRID:** grid.423138.f
*   **ROR:** 05vvg9554
*   **ISNI:** 0000000406373991
*   **Ringgold ID:** 53469
*   **Library of Congress ID:** n86806735

### Academic and Scientific Recognition
The organization is widely recognized in bibliographic and knowledge systems. It is listed in the German National Library (GND) as `1087390648` and the VIAF system as `138463432`. Its profile has been maintained across multiple language editions of Wikipedia, including English, Catalan, Hebrew, and Russian, and it maintains a category on Wikimedia Commons.

## References

1. GRID Release 2017-01-10
2. Google Knowledge Graph
3. GRID Release 2015-12-14
4. GRID Release 2016-12-06
5. Quora
6. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
7. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph